[AK, USA]Unscanned ballots tallied as problems investigatedWhen some Anchorage precincts ran out of ballots on Election Day, frustrated voters were asked to cast substitute ballots. They selected their mayor using ballots printed for faraway precincts. They marked their vote on a controversial gay rights proposal on blue sample ballots or hastily made photocopies.

[AK, USA]K.L. v. State of Alaska, Department of Administration, Division of Motor VehiclesThe American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alaska have filed a brief seeking to allow transgender individuals to correct the gender marker on their driver’s licenses without undergoing major surgery. Currently, Alaska DMV policy requires that individuals wishing to change the sex marker on their driver’s license submit proof of a surgical “sex change.” The state’s surgery requirement places an undue burden on transgender individuals and presents a gross violation of an individual’s right to privacy.

[CA, USA]“It was fabulous, darling”With a half dozen protesters kneeling in prayer outside, seven cross-dressing performers danced and lip-synched to a sold-out crowd of 200 Wednesday night at the University of San Diego’s first-ever drag show.

[FL, USA]Ex-Largo manager vies for county jobSusan Stanton, the former Largo city manager who was fired after her plans to have a sex change became public, has applied for two assistant county administrator jobs in Pasco County.

[LA, USA]Orleans Parish Prison sexual assaults addressed with change in inmate classification systemOrleans Parish jail staff are now asking arrestees booked into the facility questions to determine whether they are vulnerable to sexual assault, Sheriff's Office leaders said Thursday. The change to the jail's classification system, put into operation about six weeks ago, comes months after members of a federal panel that aims to reduce prison rape pointedly asked jail leaders about what steps they take to protect inmates who could be victimized while locked up.

[MD, USA]Referendum fails for Baltimore Co. trans lawIn a little-noticed development, opponents of a transgender non-discrimination law approved earlier this year by the Baltimore County Council attempted to kill the law by circulating petitions to gather signatures needed to place it on the ballot in a referendum.

[RI, USA]URI student requests more gender-neutral bathroomsLast night, sophomore Julia Schoellkopf held public forum during the Student Senate meetings, in which she discussed the status of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus and why the University of Rhode Island should seek to have more of them in its buildings. In order to raise awareness about this issue, Schoellkopf is planning to host a protest and collect signatures in a petition in the 24-hour room in the library on Wednesday, April 18.